Rarotonga resort offers time in the sun

An award-winning resort business on Rarotonga’s most famous white-sand beach has gone up for sale, promising new owners their time in the sun.

Set amid lush tropical gardens at iconic Muri Beach, the Muri Beachcomber resort offers 22 guest units and villas, along with a guest lounge, outdoor pool, beachside decks and immediate beach access.

The resort’s offering of stylish rooms in a world-class location pulls in holidaymakers from around the world including families and couples seeking a romantic escape. It boasts an ‘exceptional’ 9.4 rating on global travel site Expedia. Its location is rated 4.9 out of five on Tripadvisor.

Sheltered by a coral reef, Muri Beach is renowned for its serene island-studded lagoon with safe swimming as well as snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and kite surfing.

Cafes, shops and night markets are close at hand and Rarotonga International Airport and the Cook Islands’ capital, Avarua, are within a scenic 20-minute drive.

The buildings and business sustaining Muri Beachcomber, located at Ara Tapu Muri, Avarua, Cook Islands, are being offered to buyers as a going concern by negotiation through Bayleys hotels, tourism and leisure sales national director, Wayne Keene, and colleague Philip Toogood of Bayleys Fiji.

The resort encompasses 16 sea view units, two garden units, a two-bedroom family garden unit and three water garden villas, along with a reception building with office/administration, housekeeping areas and a guest lounge.

Each guest unit contains living and dining areas, and balconies with sea or garden views. They are equipped with self-catering facilities and ceiling fans, and all bedrooms are air-conditioned.

The numerous buildings sit on nearly a hectare of leasehold land with luxuriant vegetation, lawns and on-site parking.

The sale also includes chattels and assets for guest use such as barbecues, kayaks, bicycles, stand-up paddle boards and snorkelling gear.

“The highly profitable resort operation enables new owners to tap immediate cashflow, with scope to further grow revenue in a world-renowned location that commands high occupancy year-round,” Keene says.

“The business is fully managed by a team employed by the current owners, with day-to-day operations run by capable staff from cleaners to management. This means the resort can operate for lengthy periods without the owners on site, which could suit an absentee owner.

“Being a very good three-star resort in a five-star location makes the operation ripe for repositioning to a more premium offering with an enhanced star rating and higher room rates. New owners could also explore adding units, in line with local planning processes,” says Keene.

Existing marketing includes low-season and multi-night offers, and honeymoon specials.

“Consistently strong bookings are driven by listings on international travel sites such as Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Hotels.com and Expedia, the impact of which has mushroomed off the back of years of outstanding guest reviews,” he says.

Keene says new owners may be able to build further on diversified income earned from hosting weddings and other gatherings.

He says the business is also primed to capitalise on burgeoning international visitor demand.

Declared gross turnover for tourism in the Cook Islands leapt by 40 percent to a provisional $317 million in the two years to 2025, according to the Cook Islands Statistics Office.

“Tourism continues to benefit from substantial government backing, including funding to drive destination marketing, product development, industry management and workforce development and training,” Keene says.